Search Results

Tools

Why veterans run : military service in American presidential elections, 1789-2016

Author
Teigen, Jeremy M., 1971- author.
Title
Why veterans run : military service in American presidential elections, 1789-2016 / Jeremy M. Teigen.
Format
Book
Published
Philadelphia : Temple University Press, [2018]
Description
285 pages ; 24 cm.
Notes
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary
The assumptions that military service helps candidates attract votes - while lacking it harms a candidate's chances - has been an article of faith since the electoral coronation of George Washington in 1789. Perhaps the most compelling fact driving the perception that military service helps win votes is the large number of veterans who have held public office. Some candidates even exaggerate their military service to persuade voters. However, sufficient counter-examples undermine the idea that military veterans enjoy an advantage when seeking political office.In Why Veterans Run, Jeremy Teigenexplains the tendency of parties to elevate those with armed forces experience to run for high office. He describes the veteran candidate phenomenon by examining the related factors and patterns, showing why different eras have more former generals running and why the number of veterans in election cycles varies. With both quantitative and qualitative analysis, Why Veterans Run investigates each postwar era in U.S. electoral history and elaborates why so many veterans run for office. Teigen also reveals how election outcomes with veteran candidates illuminate the relationship between the military and civilian spheres as well as the preferences of the American electorate.
Subject headings
Presidents--United States--Election--History. Presidential candidates--United States--History. Presidents--United States--Biography. Veterans--Political activity--United States--History.
Genre heading
Biography. History.
ISBN
9781439914359 (cloth (alk. paper) : alk. paper) 1439914354 (cloth (alk. paper) : alk. paper) 9781439914366 (paper (alk. paper) : alk. paper) 1439914362 (paper (alk. paper) : alk. paper) 9781439914373 (e-book)

Holdings

Library
Columbus - University Library of Columbus
Call Number
JK524 .T36 2018
Location
Columbus Library - Stacks
text this call number